given the choice, would you do it all again? law school grads report mixed reactions.

[julie anne ines]

The ABA Journal recently posed a question that I’m sure many a lawyer and many a graduating law student have been asked: “If you could start from scratch, would you opt to take the LSAT and go to law school?”

Basically, can you see yourself going back in time in order to prevent a depressing future, a la disturbingly hot man-boy Zac Efron in the movie 17 Again?

I haven’t had the, um, privilege of seeing the movie, but I imagine it has something to do with a troubled middle-ager who gets a second chance to do things differently and learns some things along the way to a happy ending.

Unfortunately, life is nothing like it is in the movies.

In real life, we live with the consequences of our actions. And, in the case of law school, those consequences can add up to debt in the six-figures and work that isn’t as fulfilling or as profitable as one pictured while an idealistic law student, according to many of the posters on in the ABA Journal’s comment section.

Here’s a gem from poster “Captain Obvious”:

“Let’s see. I now hold ten times the amount of student loans as I did after graduating from undergrad, at more than twice the interest rate. I’ve been unemployed since graduating from an allegedly strong Tier 2 law school two years ago this month. I live in my parents’ basement, and can afford neither health nor malpractice insurance. My last interview with a law firm was eight months ago. I would eagerly take a non-legal job if anyone anywhere was interested in hiring a JD. Sadly, no one is. I do not have ten dollars to my name. So, after careful contemplation, I would have to come to the conclusion that I would not go to law school again, if given the choice.”

And I just signed up for how many years and how much in student loans? Gulp.

More heartening comments after the jump.

User “Hmm” isn’t helping either:

“I would not do it again. I had an unenjoyable career before I went to law school at age 30, and made $60k a year, had decent benefits, and no debt. I decided to go to law school, after which I am $200k in the hole, I make $65k a year doing doc reviews, have no benefits, work twice as much and can’t stand what I do. Between the $400k the loans will eventually cost me, and the $180k I didn’t make during law school, I’m out $580k, and with 30 years of work remaining, I would have to make about $20k a year more than I would have without law school just to break even. Since all my money goes to loans, I will not be able to buy property or save much money, I probably won’t be able to retire until I’m 75, if I live that long.”

After reading the two comments above, I was about ready to run in the other direction and started to doubt my decision to leave a career as a journalist to attend law school.

Surprisingly, though, the amount of people on the board who don’t regret their decisions is almost equal to the amount of those who do.

The key to happiness? I’ll get back to you on that one, but there is a way to not be miserable post law school graduation like commenter “T”:

“I work in the public interest sector.  I have burdensome loans.  I make as much money now as I did before law school.  However, I like my job, I see the fruits of my labor and I feel good about my work.”

In the comments posted at the ABA site, it seems that what distinguishes the happy lawyers/former law students from their regretful peers is that law and the work involved with being a lawyer is something they enjoy. They also knew the nature of the work they were getting into from the start.

The take-away for 0Ls, like me?

Know what you're getting into, know that you want to practice law and know that, if you're taking out loans, you won't be living like the Trump four years out of law school. Now we know, and, as the G.I. Joe PSAs say, knowing is half the battle.

(Bonus PSA because it's Friday!)

Comments

[Maite M. Ayala]

Hey! I'm from Argentina, and I'm studying Law and English Translation. I've really enjoyed reading this post! Although I haven't finished my university career yet -it's just the beginning!- sometimes I ask myself that question... I think you've said the right key point, you've got to know what the career is about, but above all this, what the job is about.
Despite the fact that in my country lawyers, judges, and every thing related to law is despised, I'm proud of the career I've chosen, and I'm totally excited about my future. Every night, when I go to sleep, I try to figure out different ways of contributing to something essential in our lives- Justice.

Thanks, I hope to read your next post very soon...

Maite

[Scott Palmer]

Law school is difficult and frustrating and more than a little scary sometimes, but I would definitely do it again. Would I do things differently? Sure. Law school is unlike anything you've ever experienced, but it's also incredibly rewarding to accomplish.

Here are some things I did right...

I finished in 3 1/2 years by going at night year round. It was hard, but while I have a little school debt, it's not overwhelming because I wasn't borrowing living expenses and tuition, and I paid what tuition I could along the way.

I attended a school focused on becoming a lawyer, not on some abstract theory of law. Going to a Tier 1 school is great if you want to go into politics or become a law professor, otherwise go where they will teach you the mechanics of your new profession.

I networked at every opportunity. This has already served me well - and continues to pay dividends every day.

I volunteered for stuff. Never underestimate the power of free. If you help people out, they remember it - and if they can help you out in the future, they will.

--

I'm happy I went because I'm not the same person I was before law school. I think differently. I have doors opened to me before that I never thought would be.

The people you refer to, especially the one living in their parent's basement, simply aren't trying. If I was in a basement with no money and a law license I'd be going to the library every day to use their internet access and I would learn everything about one area of the law - I'd become an expert at something. I'd start a legal blog about that topic. I'd do pro bono work in my community, as malpractice insurance is usually provided by the nonprofit sponsoring a pro bono program. I'd do something other than sit in a basement and waste my spectacular education. Oh, and I'd get a job doing something, anything - not working is terrible for your self esteem.

Law school and the accompanying license is not a magic bullet - it's more like a can opener. If you sit there and lament that you don't have a can to open, I agree that it isn't worth having a can opener. But if you're willing to do the work, you become invaluable to people in need.

In the interest of full disclosure, I graduated from a Tier 3 school in January, passed the bar, have a non-legal job that pays me well, and after I'm sworn in two weeks from now, I'll be hanging out my own shingle. If you're considering, regretting, or thinking about this at all, I'd be happy to talk anyone through their questions.

[Julie Anne Ines]

Maite: That's an awesome attitude to have! Thanks for reading! :)
Scott: Thank you for the great points made throughout your post, and congrats on passing the bar!

[mike]

Curious if anyone’s has checked out the new book “Hell’s Aquarium” by Steve Alten? It’s an awesome read. It’s about the ancient prehistoric shark Megalodon, which makes the current Great White Shark look like a gold fish. I am currently reading it now:

http://www.amazon.com/Meg-Hells-Aquarium-Steve-Alten/dp/1935142046/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240628582&sr=1-1

http://www.variancepublishing.com/meg-hells-aquarium-contest.html

[negar]

I have problem every body lolz

[negar]

after I finished high school I accsepted in university my majer is architact.If I'd been more ambitious in college,I could have learnd to speak another language like france.I live in iran but I'd like will be living another country, but I can not.......what can I do?

[morbid obesity]

If I could go to have 17 incredible that movie and all I love to be 17 i would make things more fun, and many of the mistakes I made the would avoid!

[Air Jordans]

Thank you for sharing it which make me more confidence on my stand.

[Wendy]

Should you go to law school? Depends on your expectations > be honest!

For the money > check your facts

For the prestige > ha!

For the education > getting warmer

Because it's your dream > voila

[usa jerseys]

Stephon Marbury and Keith Van Horn had become stars in New Jersey. Marbury made the All-NBA 3rd Team in 2000 and his very first All-Star Game in 2001. But despite his individual efforts, constant injuries hindered the team's chemistry and the Nets failed to reach to the playoffs in each of Marbury's seasons as a starter.